Grounds Maintenance/Parish Steward Apprentice
(Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council)

The Parish Council is excited to announce an opportunity for an apprentice Parish Steward to join our team. This role offers the right person the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience working for a local council, learning a variety of practical skills while supporting the upkeep and improvement of the parish.

The main responsibilities will include:

• Grounds maintenance, such as grass cutting, hedge trimming, and general upkeep of public spaces.
• Open space maintenance, including care for areas like the Community Orchard, which may involve planting, pruning, and supporting biodiversity initiatives.
• Street furniture maintenance, including regular checks, cleaning, and minor repairs of noticeboards, benches, dog bag dispensers, and street signs.
• Supporting the maintenance of play parks by conducting routine inspections and assisting with minor repairs to ensure safety and cleanliness.
• Assisting with other tasks as required, including preparing for community events or helping with small projects across the parish.

The position also includes caring for open spaces, such as the Community Orchard. This may involve seasonal tasks such as pruning, planting, and nurturing fruit trees, as well as other general maintenance activities to encourage biodiversity and provide a pleasant environment for the community to enjoy.

You may also be involved in supporting community planting events and other local initiatives aimed at improving and enhancing green spaces.

The role is primarily outdoors, making it ideal for someone who enjoys working in the open air and taking pride in improving their local environment. Some tasks will be completed indoors, such as basic equipment maintenance or record-keeping.

The position is full-time, with standard working hours between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, though there is some flexibility around start and finish times.

We are looking for someone who is proactive, reliable, and eager to learn new skills, with a genuine interest in making a positive difference in the local community. This apprenticeship provides the opportunity to develop both practical and transferable skills, setting a strong foundation for future career development.

Why apply?

• The Parish Council, besides being an excellent employer and offering a clear route to employment, is also proud of its Quality Gold Standard achievement, which demonstrates that the council is professional and progressive. The Parish Council is also fortunate to have a fantastic range of public parks and open spaces.
• The work is varied and primarily outdoors, making it both rewarding and enjoyable.
• This is the first time the council offers an apprenticeship

Desired Skills & Qualities:

• Passion for the outdoors and enthusiasm for hands-on, practical work
• Eagerness to learn, develop new skills, and gain experience in ground and open space maintenance
• Good timekeeping and the ability to follow schedules and instructions
• Reliability with a positive and proactive approach to tasks
• Strong interpersonal skills for working as part of a team and engaging with members of the community
• Willingness to take on feedback and grow professionally throughout the apprenticeship

Future Prospects:

• The Parish Council’s long-term aim is to expand the Steward’s team, and this apprenticeship offers a comprehensive training programme that will provide valuable, transferable skills for future employment opportunities.

Training:

• Full training to be provided by the employer and KEITS at the place of employment.
• The applicant will be working towards and gain a Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship.
• The learner will be allocated an industry specific training consultant who will provide both remote and on site visits throughout the apprenticeship.
• The apprentice will work towards an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship.
• Depending on which apprenticeship pathway your employer chooses to offer within horticulture. You may also need to achieve all or a combination of the following courses before taking your end point assessment: Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work, Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance, Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides and Abrasive Wheel.
• If you would like to read more about the course content for these apprenticeships, please follow the below links:
• https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/horticulture-or-landscape-construction-operative-v1-1
• https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/horticulture-or-landscaping-supervisor-v1-1

Things to consider

• KEITS Training Services Ltd reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the listed closing date should the need arise.
• To Apply click Apply for this Role and for our top tips on how to fill out your application form click here